Pipe Coupling

Abstract

The coupling for connecting an end of a first tubular member ( 12 ) to a part ( 13 ) comprises a sleeve ( 3 ), at least two bushings ( 2 ) said bushings being coupled to said tubular member by spreading means, compression means ( 4 ) acting on said bushings and able to compress said end of said first tubular member against said part through their coupling with the tubular member, wherein when said compression means compress said bushings, said bushings are moved away from said end of said first tubular member against an inner side of said sleeve by said spreading means.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A pipe coupling for connecting an end of a first tubular member to a part, the pipe coupling comprising:
 a sleeve;   at least two bushings, the bushings being coupled to the first tubular member by spreading means; and   a compression device that acts on the bushings and is configured to compress the end of the first tubular member against the part through a coupling with the first tubular member;   wherein the bushings and the sleeve are configured such that when the compression device compresses the bushings, the bushings are moved away from the end of the first tubular member against an inner side of the sleeve by the spreading means.   
     
     
         22 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the part includes a second tubular member. 
     
     
         23 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the part includes a container. 
     
     
         24 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the sleeve is formed by a receiving bore of the part. 
     
     
         25 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the sleeve is formed by a flanged housing sleeve. 
     
     
         26 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the end of the first tubular member includes a concentric groove configured to retain a gasket. 
     
     
         27 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the end of the first tubular member includes two concentric grooves, each of the two concentric grooves configured to retain a gasket, or each end of the first tubular member including at least one concentric groove configured to retain a gasket. 
     
     
         28 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a spacer and gasket centering ring with a gasket arranged between the end of the first tubular member and the part.   
     
     
         29 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 21 , wherein each of the at least two bushings are made of at least two shells. 
     
     
         30 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the spreading means includes a wedge-shaped circumferential groove placed on an outer surface of the end of the first tubular member and an inner surface of the at least two bushings. 
     
     
         31 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the spreading means includes a plurality of wedge-shaped circumferential grooves. 
     
     
         32 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 30 , wherein the wedge-shaped circumferential groove has an asymmetrical cross-section with respect to a radial plane. 
     
     
         33 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the asymmetrical cross-section is formed by a substantially steep slanting flank towards the end of the first tubular member and a substantially gently slanting flank away from the end of the first tubular member. 
     
     
         34 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the compression device includes two adjustable collars attached in the sleeve. 
     
     
         35 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 34 , wherein the two adjustable collars are attached in the sleeve via a removable retaining ring. 
     
     
         36 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the collars includes a plurality of threaded pins for adjusting a compression force on the bushings of the at least one of the collars. 
     
     
         37 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a centering ring for aligning the end of the first tubular member and an end of the second tubular member.   
     
     
         38 . The pipe coupling as defined in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 washers for providing an axial preload.   
     
     
         39 . A pipe system comprising:
 a first tubular member;   a second tubular member; and   a pipe coupling for connecting an end of the first tubular member with an end of the second tubular member, the pipe coupling including,
 a sleeve, 
 at least two bushings, the bushings being coupled to the first tubular member by spreading means, and 
 a compression device that acts on the bushings and is configured to compress the end of the first tubular member against the second tubular member through a coupling with the first tubular member; 
 wherein the bushings and the sleeve are configured such that when the compression device compresses the bushings, the bushings are moved away from the end of the first tubular member against an inner side of the sleeve by the spreading means. 
   
     
     
         40 . A coupling method between a first pipe and a second pipe using a pipe coupling, the pipe coupling including a sleeve, two bushings, the two bushings being coupled to the first pipe by spreading means, and a compression device that acts on the two bushings and is configured to compress an end of the first pipe against the second pipe through a coupling with the first pipe, the method comprising the steps of:
 compressing the two bushings with the compression device; and   moving the two bushings away from the end of the first pipe against an inner side of the sleeve by the spreading means, with the step of compressing.